Annual Meeting Prime Minister Eva Petrič of Honorary Dr. Miro Cerar Exhibitis in Consuls Addresses UNGA New York page 3 & 4 > page 5 > page 8 > NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 9, 2015, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 22 Science and Education Showcase & Reception Celebrating 50 Years of U.S. - Slovenia Fulbright Exchanges Prof. Jure Leskovec. On October 1, the renowned Slovenian experts moderated by VTIS president Embassy of Slovenia marked in science and education. The Igor Cesarec. The program 50 Years of the Fulbright event featured Davor Orlic, also included a presentation of exchange program with Project Manager of Knowledge educational exchange programs the U.S. with a reception 4 All Foundation and Mitja by the American Slovenian that was part of a larger Jermol, UNESCO OER Chair, Educational Foundation, given day-long program aimed at both representatives from Jožef by Jure Leskovec, computer strengthening cooperation Stefan, the leading Slovenian scientist and an associate in science and education scientific research institute, professor at Stanford, who between the U.S. and who presented the OpeningUp introduced his area of expertise Slovenia on in Washington, Slovenia initiative. The forum, as well. Students, researchers, DC. furthermore, featured a diaspora academics, and businesspeople The program started showcase presented by Društvo from both countries attended with an afternoon scientific VTIS - Association of Slovenes the showcase, as well as and educational showcase with Educated Abroad, which was honorary consuls of the Republic Embassy of Slovenia 2410 California Street, NW twitter.com/SLOinUSA Washington, D.C. 20008, USA T: +1 202 386 66 01 E: [email protected] facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA washington.embassy.si Dr. Tadeja Gračner in VTIS President Igor Cesarec. Science and education workshop participants. of Slovenia in the U.S. and to gain academic experience in Department, former U.S. Mexico, who were scheduled to the U.S. Many of them joined ambassadors to Slovenia, attend their annual meeting at the event and some even took science attachés from various the embassy next day. a plane ride to participate in E.U. member countries, The afternoon forum the program! representatives of NGOs was followed by a networking The keynote speakers and think tanks working on reception celebrating 50 years at the evening reception were international exchanges, and of the U.S.-Slovenia Fulbright the Slovenian ambassador Slovenian scientists in the U.S. exchange program. With the to the U.S. Dr. Božo Cerar, Almost 400 Slovenians help of the U.S. Embassy in and Marianne Craven, Acting have taken part in the Ljubljana, and the U.S. State Deputy Assistant Secretary program since 1965 when the Department, the Slovenian (DAS) for Academic Programs first generation of Slovenian embassy in Washington tried at the Department of State. scholars received Fulbright to reach out to all Fulbright Guests included not only scholarships. Almost the same alumni of the past 50 years American and Slovenian alumni number of American students, who studied or did research of the Fulbright program, but professors, researchers and in Slovenia and vice versa – also representatives of the scientist spent their Fulbright Slovenes who were fortunate White House and the State days in Slovenia. Another 500 Astrophysicist Dr. Andrej Prša. Address by Ms. Marianne Craven, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Academic Programs. OCTOBER 9, 2015, PAGE 2 Slovenes participated in other Gary Bukovnik. The exhibition, is represented in numerous exchange program funded by entitled Forever Spring, was public collections, such as the the U.S. government. Among curated by Ms. Olga Merela, Art Institute of Chicago; the them was (in 2003) also the director of the Bonfoey Gallery Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; present Slovenian ambassador in Cleveland, OH. Born in the Brooklyn Museum; the to the U.S., Dr. Božo Cerar, Cleveland to a Slovenian family, Metropolitan Museum of Art, who participated in State Gary Bukovnik has lived in San New York; the Smithsonian Department’s International Francisco for over 30 years. Institution, Washington, DC; Visitors Leadership Peace and Primarily using the mediums the Library of Congress; the Security Program. of watercolor, monotype and Philadelphia Museum of Art; To emphasize the cultural lithograph, Bukovnik fuses and the Fine Arts Museum of ties between the two countries, sensual vitality with fluid yet San Francisco. The exhibition the ambassador opened on powerful colorations, creating will be on view until December this occasion an exhibition by floral images of great depth 18. the Slovenian American artist and intensity. Bukovnik’s work Reception marking 50 years of Fulbright program with Artist Gary Bukovnik. Slovenia. DIPLOMACY Annual Meeting of the Honorary Consuls On Friday, October 2, legal entities in their respective fields between Slovenia and the the Embassy of the Republic states, to provide information U.S. and Slovenia and Mexico. He of Slovenia hosted the annual about Slovenia, its economy and also thanked them for consular meeting of the honorary consuls its culture, and to facilitate and assistance to Slovenian citizens of the Republic of Slovenia in establish economic contacts and and for their commitment to the United States and Mexico. contacts in the fields of culture, the Slovenian community in the Slovenia has appointed 13 non– science, education and sport. U.S. and Mexico. Furthermore, professional/honorary consuls in In his remarks, given he outlined the priorities of the the U.S. and 2 in Mexico, which at the annual meeting, Slovenian foreign policy, briefed the embassy in Washington is Ambassador Dr. Cerar first them on the economic indicators responsible for. Their role is to thanked the honorary consuls for Slovenia, and explained the provide necessary assistance for their service and dedication latest guidelines for their work. to Slovenian nationals and to expand cooperation in various Next to the ambassador, OCTOBER 9, 2015, PAGE 3 The gathering was also an opportunity for the consuls to From left: Hon. Consul Diaz, Hon. Consul Wilkens, Hon. inform on their activities throughout the year. Consul Nelson, Hon. Consul Medved and Hon. Consul Chan. participating embassy staff in The gathering was also (Florida), Mr. Paul N. Steinfeld the meeting were also: Deputy an opportunity for the consuls (Georgia), Rear Admiral Ronald Chief of Mission, Mr. Vladimir to inform on their activities Joseph Zlatoper (Hawaii), Dr. John Kolmanič; Economic Counsellor, throughout the year, including P. Vidmar (Illinois), Mrs. Barbara Mr. Gorazd Renčelj; Political their work promoting Slovenia K. Nelson (Kansas), Ambassador Counselor and Science Attaché, in their respective states as Yousif B. Ghafari (Michigan), Mr. Borut Blaj; Consular Officer, business and tourist destinations Mr. Miro Medved (Minnesota), Ms. Tjaša Tanko; and Ms. and efforts to strengthen the Mr. Erik Horvat (New York, Nuška Zakrajšek, who handles ties between the two countries New Jersey), Dr. Lydia Mihelič cultural, public diplomacy in science and technology, Pulsipher (Tennessee), Mrs. and education portfolios. The education, culture, public Sandy Wilkens (Texas) and Mrs. event was also attended by Mr. diplomacy and consular affairs. Petra Mitchell (Pennsylvania). Borut Žunič, consul general ad The network of honorary The two honorary consuls serving interim from Cleveland, OH, consuls in the U.S. currently in Mexico are: Ambassador where Slovenia has opened the consists of Mr. Thomas J. Brandi Alejandro Diaz (Guadalajara) only professional consular post (California), Mr. Srečko Vidmar and Mr. Ariel López (Mexico outside Washington, DC area. (Colorado), Dr. Gregory S. Chan City). In his remarks, given at the annual meeting, Ambassador Dr. Slovenia has appointed 13 non–professional/honorary Cerar first thanked the honorary consuls for their service. consuls in the U.S. and 2 in Mexico. OCTOBER 9, 2015, PAGE 4 DIPLOMACY Prime Minister Dr. Miro Cerar Addresses U.N. General Assembly PM Dr. Cerar addresses United Nations General Assembly. Meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Slovenian Prime Minister, Prime Minister Dr. Miro Cerar response and reaffirmed the Dr. Miro Cerar, departed for addressed the 70th session of the support of the United Nations in New York on September 24 to United Nations General Assembly meeting related challenges. In attend the 70th U.N. General in New York on Wednesday, addition to meeting the Secretary- Assembly session. First, on September 30. In the general General, P.M. Dr. Cerar also met September 25, he took part in debate of the anniversary with General Assembly President a U.N. development summit session, held on the theme “the Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, discussing the 2030 Sustainable road ahead for peace, security held other bilateral talks as well Development Agenda and co- and human rights”, Prime Minister as attended several side events. chaired, with Prime Minister of Dr. Cerar underlined Slovenia’s Along with the Prime Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, commitment to promoting Minister, Foreign Minister, Karl Ralph Gonsalves, an interactive human rights and the rule of Erjavec, traveled to New York to dialogue session of the Summit law, and stressed that Slovenia attend the general debate and dedicated to the issue of poverty would continue to advocate take part in ministerial meetings and hunger. On September 27, for progressive approach to of the Group of Friends on he attended the meeting of human rights issues and strive to the Responsibility to Protect, global leaders on gender equality enhance international norms and and the Group of Friends of and women’s empowerment. standards. Mediation. He also addressed On September 28, he joined a On Thursday, P.M. Miro the open debate of the Security welcome reception hosted by Cerar in a meeting with the Council on the preservation of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki- U.N. Secretary-General Ban international peace and security moon - for heads of delegations, Ki-moon discussed the recent and a ministerial marking the as well as a reception given by developments in the Western 20th anniversary of a nuclear U.S.